sjar Chapter 256 The Tea Shop Opens
Chapter 256 The Tea Shop Opens
After leaving Ruyi Embroidery Workshop, Tian Tian ignored the stares of those around her and found Shen Zhian's residence in the capital.
She had arranged to meet Shen Zhian here today with the supplier who provided her tea shop.
"Uncle Shen."
"Princess." In front of others, Shen Zhian bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Princess."
The others also bowed, saying, "This humble subject greets the Princess."
Tian Tian nodded and walked to the head seat. "Please sit down, everyone."
"I suppose Uncle Shen has already told you what kind of goods this princess wants."
One of the shopkeepers stepped forward and said, “Princess, I, Liu San, am in the pork business. You can rest assured, I have my own pig farm, and the pigs are slaughtered fresh every day. The pork is the best.”
Tian Tian nodded in satisfaction, "Okay, I have the orders here..."
She gave him a list of the quantities of ingredients she needed each day.
The amount of pork in the tea snacks she makes is quite significant.
Especially baby back ribs and high-quality pork belly.
There's also pork shoulder and pork hind leg meat used to make various kinds of meatballs.
In addition, there are the offal and pork bones.
"So much?" Liu San was surprised. Almost every type of meat weighed over a hundred pounds, and all these parts added up to nearly a thousand pounds.
Tian Tian nodded very confidently, "This is just the amount needed when the shop first starts. I will adjust it regularly later."
Surprised, Liu San was only thinking about making this deal happen. "If the princess wants so much, I will definitely give her the most favorable price."
As he spoke, he slowly sat down and began to calculate the supply price.
The next shopkeeper supplied fish and shrimp. "I have several fish ponds at home, so supplying them is not a problem."
Tian Tian also gave him courage. She asked for a lot of fish and shrimp. The shrimp could be used directly, shrimp meat, shrimp paste, or shrimp balls. The fish could be fresh fish, fish heads, or made into fish balls or fish tofu.
"Princess, rest assured, my price is also very favorable."
Next came the offerings of tofu, vegetables, rice, flour, cooking oil, seasonings, and beverages.
Shen Zhian was also one of them, supplying tea.
Tian Tian signed supply contracts with them, and the terms in the contracts were mutually binding.
"I hope we can cooperate happily."
Once the supply contract is finalized, her shop can open for business.
*
Before opening, Tian Tian hired more than 20 chefs, trained them for seven days, and hired 50 other staff members.
The opening date was posted at the entrance of Cha Xiang Zhai.
Tian Tian didn't forget to send a letter to Ling Yao in the palace.
She remembered that the Emperor had been thinking about her business opening that day.
If she doesn't inform the palace, the Emperor might nag her about it later...
On the opening day, the whole family got up very early, changed into clothes that were easy to work in, and arrived at the backyard of the shop early.
But as the sun rose higher, none of the merchants who were supposed to supply goods showed up.
Tian Tian's brows furrowed more and more tightly...
Considering what happened at Ruyi Embroidery Workshop, she couldn't help but suspect that someone was secretly sabotaging her plans.
"Sweetie, what should we do?" Tian Xiang asked, her face filled with worry.
The notice was posted, and everyone in the capital knew that Cha Xiang Zhai was opening today.
If Tea Fragrance Pavilion cannot open today, then the Fufeng Princess's Mansion will become a laughing stock in the capital.
"How about we split up and go buy groceries now?" Tian Xiang suggested. "Let's get through today first."
Tian Xiang was unaware that Tian Tian wasn't in such a hurry.
She can buy anything she needs in the shop through the system.
What troubled her was who was plotting against her behind the scenes.
Can't stand seeing her shop doing well? Is she a dealer?
The dealer is the gambling den, and the owner behind the gambling den?
Anyone who can open a gambling den in the capital must have extraordinary connections; they might even be a high-ranking official in the court...
But she hasn't offended any ministers since she arrived in the capital, so why is she being targeted?
"Sweetie?" Ling Yao came in from the backyard. "Is something wrong?"
He went to Tian Tian's side and stood where she was, only then realizing... "Is there a problem with the supply?"
"It's time to deliver the goods."
"Sweetie, I'll go back to the palace now and have the imperial kitchen send something over."
After saying that, he ran out without waiting for Tian Tian's reply.
With a neigh, the horse departed.
Seeing this, Tian Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, "Fortunately, Your Highness is here."
With Ling Yao's help, various ingredients were delivered within half an hour, and everything was of very good quality.
"Your Highness, let me calculate the amount for you..." Tian Tian took out a silver note...
Ling Yao stopped him, "Don't talk about this now, go and get ready."
Tian Tian nodded.
Time was running out, so she led the cooks in the kitchen to quickly prepare the various ingredients.
Tian Xiang and Qin Youyou went to the front yard to check every corner and made sure there were no problems.
Then turn on the fogging device...
"There are already a lot of people outside the door." Qin Youyou came to the door and listened carefully.
A large crowd had already gathered at the entrance, and the noise almost drowned out the entire shop.
Just then, a sharp voice came from the doorway, "The Emperor has arrived! The Empress has arrived!"
The noise outside instantly quieted down.
Qin Youyou looked up at Tian Xiang in surprise, "Elder sister, the Emperor and Empress have arrived."
Tian Xiang's first thought was to go to the kitchen and call Tian Tian over.
But before they could even lift their legs, there was a knock on the door.
Tian Xiang had no choice but to go and open the door, "Eunuch Yin."
"Young Miss, Third Miss, His Majesty and Empress have arrived," Eunuch Yin greeted them politely.
Tian Xiang and Qin Youyou quickly went out and knelt down, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live the Empress!"
Ling Jun and Empress Li dismounted from the imperial carriage, and the surrounding people knelt down.
Empress Li came to Tian Xiang and Qin Youyou, personally helped them up, and held their hands the whole time.
The people were so shocked when they saw it that their eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
"Where is Fufeng?" Ling Jun asked.
"Your Majesty, Tian Tian is in the kitchen..." Tian Xiang replied.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please come in."
Tian Xiang and Qin Youyou stepped aside, and the mist inside the door drifted out...
Ling Jun looked down curiously at the swirling clouds and mist beneath his feet, and couldn't help but think of the poems written by those literati.
The description of the fairyland in the poem made him eagerly step inside.
The moment Ling Jun stepped into the Tea Fragrance Pavilion, he was enveloped in mist.
It made him feel as if he had stepped into a fairyland with just that one step.
He subconsciously looked down to see if he was standing on the ground.
The ground was also covered by clouds and mist, revealing only a faint blue color.
He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping around the room, his eyes filled with undisguised amazement.
Inside the shop, rustic wooden tables are scattered about, the aroma of tea wafts through the air, and bamboo groves, artificial mountains, and flowing water adorn the space. The dappled shadows of the bamboo, along with the wisps of mist, add to the elegance and mystery.
Just as he was immersed in this tranquil and elegant setting, Empress Li squeezed in from behind him.
“Wow, it’s beautiful.”
At the same time, two figures emerged from the smoke.
Tian Tian and Ling Yao have arrived.
Tian Tian was wearing a simple ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with the sleeves slightly rolled up, and a few strands of hair on her forehead were damp with sweat and gently stuck to her cheek.
Her eyes were bright and clear, with a hint of lively laughter. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you have arrived."
"Let's not stay on the first floor, let's go up to the second floor."
Ling Jun snapped out of his reverie and coughed lightly, “This Tea Fragrance Pavilion is truly… a hidden paradise.”
Those poems written by scholars were not exaggerated at all!
"Father, Mother, let's go upstairs." Ling Yao pointed towards the stairs.
Ling Jun reached the stairs and heard the sound of flowing water, which turned out to be the sound of water flowing from the second floor down to the pond on the first floor.
Meanwhile, waves of mist continued to fall from the second floor...
It was as if he were floating in a fairyland.
Tian Tian led Ling Jun and Empress Li to a side room by the window. On one side was a slightly transparent floral screen depicting ink wash landscapes. Amidst the flowing clouds and mist, they felt as if they were surrounded by mountains.
The windows were half-open, carved windows, and a gentle breeze carried the mist from inside, which was then swept away and dissipated by the wind...
Thus, from the outside, the entire Tea Fragrance Pavilion appears even more mysterious.
Ling Jun's heart stirred, and the scene inspired him to write poetry. His mind became clear, and his thoughts flowed freely.
"Such a wonderful place, if I don't write a poem, wouldn't I be wasting this beautiful scenery?"
Empress Li raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "Oh? Does His Majesty find poetry in motion?"
"Sweetie, bring me pen and ink."
Tian Tian took a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from the wooden shelf next to her.
Ling Jun chuckled, raised his hand and picked up his brush. The ink spread across the rice paper. He wrote with flowing strokes, and the poem leaped onto the page.
"The smoke from tea rises gently around the cloud-covered terrace, and the swaying bamboo shadows conceal the arrival of guests. The dew-kissed leaves are tender and golden, and the breeze from the pines carries the fragrance of ink."
He finished writing, put down his pen, and looked at him with a hint of self-satisfaction. "How was it?"
Tian Tian stood aside, looking at the poem with its elegant and powerful strokes, but did not answer the emperor's question.
Empress Li smiled jokingly, "Your Majesty's pen is truly exquisite."
Upon hearing this, Ling Jun laughed heartily, picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of tea, and savored the subtle aroma between his teeth.
"Fufeng, go and entertain the other guests. I don't need you to serve me here."
They only brought Eunuch Yin and two guards with them today, and they are here with them now.
"Your Highness, you may stay as well." With the Emperor and Empress here, Tian Tian felt embarrassed to ask Ling Yao to help her in the kitchen any further.
She quickly put away the emperor's writing brush and ink, then turned and left...
Ling Yao still wanted to follow her, but...
Ling Jun raised his hand, ready to call Ling Yao over.
But Empress Li slapped his arm away and said to Ling Yao, "Yao'er, go help Tian Tian."
Ling Yao nodded in surprise and turned to catch up with Tian Tian, who had already gone downstairs.
"What are you doing? Don't you want a daughter-in-law anymore?" Empress Li glared at Ling Jun.
Ling Jun sighed helplessly, "You have this intention, Yao'er has this intention, but the key question is, does Fufeng have this intention?"
"Also, don't forget, we're with Grand Tutor Qi..."
Empress Li scoffed, "That's just Princess An's wishful thinking. Does His Majesty really want Yao'er to marry Qi Wanqing from the Qi family?"
“Qi Wanqing…she comes from the Qi family, and is virtuous, steady, and well-mannered. She is a good match for Yao’er,” Ling Jun said.
Empress Li retorted directly, "She's good? Can she make your national treasury full? Can she ensure you won't have to worry about provisions for your border troops in the future?"
"The Emperor knows what they're up to."
Ling Jun helplessly put his arm around Empress Li's shoulder, "Alright, alright, I know, I know everything."
"But right now, doesn't Fufeng not have those feelings for our Yao'er?"
We can't force people to do things they don't want to do.
"How could there not be?" Empress Li retorted, "Sweetie definitely has feelings for Yao'er!!"
"Just watch."
The waiter brought tea and snacks...
Eunuch Yin brought it up.
"Strange, why hasn't anyone come into the shop yet?" Ling Jun changed the subject.
When they came in, the entrance was clearly crowded with people. Why has no one come in for so long?
Empress Li listened carefully and found that no one had entered the shop; all the sounds were coming from outside.
Moreover, the people outside were just as puzzled as they were.
"Huh? Why isn't the door open yet?"
"Yes, it's almost lunchtime."
"Other restaurants opened an hour ago, why isn't Cha Xiang Zhai open yet?"
"Were you not prepared?"
"How could that be? They were already inside just now."
Everyone knew perfectly well who had gone in.
But people who came after didn't know that.
"Why isn't the door open yet?" A few thugs squeezed through the crowd.
Before anyone around could answer, these people crowded to the door and started banging on it.
Everyone was stunned. What were they doing?
That's upstairs...!!!
How could they be so arrogant as to bang on the door?
Fearing being caught in the crossfire, the surrounding residents began to retreat, then ran several dozen steps before stopping to watch...
Tian Xiang and Qin Youyou were also startled by the knocking on the door.
But remembering what Tian Tian said when she came downstairs, the two exchanged a glance. Tian Xiang walked towards the door, while Qin Youyou went to the backyard.
When Tian Xiang saw Tian Tian and the others enter from the backyard, she suddenly opened the shop door.
The person outside was caught off guard and rushed in, falling flat on their face.
"..." The onlookers remained silent.
"Oh, we at Tea Fragrance Pavilion are just opening for business today, there's no need for you to give us such a grand welcome."
"Please rise quickly."
Tian Tian's clear voice rang out and reached the second floor.
"Something happened?" Empress Li stood up instinctively.
Ling Jun stopped her, "Wait a minute."
"Judging from Fufeng's voice, it doesn't sound like he was unprepared," he said.
Empress Li then slowly sat down and continued to listen to the commotion below.
"What nonsense are you talking about?!" The thugs stood up from the ground. "Who told you to open the door so suddenly? It made us brothers fall down."
One of the thugs calmed the others down and came up to Tian Tian, saying, "We're here to eat."
He led the others to sit down at the entrance on the first floor, and out of curiosity, he even reached out and gently patted the clouds around him.
"Serve us our food."
"We want ten of your restaurant's signature dishes."
Tian Tian watched them quietly, without moving.
"Why aren't you moving? Aren't you a business?"
The leader of the thugs was very smug, as if he had expected Tian Tian wouldn't be able to produce any dishes.
"You didn't...forgot to prepare any ingredients, did you?"
Tian Tian glanced at Tian Xiang, who had been guarding the door since earlier.
Upon seeing Tian Tian's gaze, she immediately closed the door.